Page 3 of 214 FirstFirst 12345678910111353103 ... LastLast
Results 51 to 75 of 5342
  1. #51
    Northern Hermit
    friscofrankie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Chiangmai, Thailand
    Posts
    7,526
    I've built more hogs out of aftermarket parts then Ihave with original parts.
    back in the 60s & 70s we'd scrounge alltehparts we could and 'build a bike' bought three running bikes in my life, built too many to count for myself and others.
    Buy (or build) a frame, get a set of cases, by flywheels (stroked for sure) custom forged piston blanks, bough al my bearngs loose in a bag or box. Even built a set of cylinders out of weldment of crome moly tube and high stregnth plate good for drags only no fins.
    you take a cuttin' torch, grinder and tig torch to a frame and then go from there. One time it took six months to locate the parts for a very stock appearing 53 panhead. Fuckin built my rep big-time there. Weren't any aftermarket parts back then. Finding that '36 seamless oil bag and VL springer was an acheivement that had the entire biker community talkin' tha bike was a collection of parts from '51, '53 '36 and alot of '75 home made shit.
    i think that building parts with mill, lathe, blanchard grinder and hand tools qualifies as building the bike. Everything is just parts, until you make it whole. it's what builders do. Hell, the Space Shuttle is built with (mostly) off-the-shelf parts. Any engineer worth his salt will have a stack o' catalogs higher than he is tall when he sits down to design, bikes ain't no different.
    When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty -- T. Jefferson


  2. #52
    Thailand Expat
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    8,184
    Quote Originally Posted by friscofrankie
    Any engineer worth his salt will have a stack o' catalogs higher than he is tall when he sits down to design, bikes ain't no different.
    So true! My first minibike i built was designed from catalogues. Growing up on a farm I did not have the money to order the original. Had to use the old man's metal pile.

    My first hawg? A Rapido 125cc.

  3. #53
    Dis-member
    Dougal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Last Online
    Yesterday @ 07:17 AM
    Location
    Head Rock
    Posts
    3,507
    Quote Originally Posted by friscofrankie
    you take a cuttin' torch, grinder and tig torch to a frame
    I couldn't get the hang of Tig but we only had one set so I didn't get a lot of chance to practice. Now MIG is easy, just like squirting molten metal.

  4. #54
    Thailand Expat
    aging one's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    22,620
    Thanks Frankie,

    Thats what I was looking for."I build bikes" "Oh year what kinda bikes to you build". "Harley's from the ground up" Yes.

  5. #55
    Northern Hermit
    friscofrankie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Chiangmai, Thailand
    Posts
    7,526
    Quote Originally Posted by Dougal
    I couldn't get the hang of Tig but we only had one set so I didn't get a lot of chance to practice. Now MIG is easy, just like squirting molten metal.
    I started weldng school right afer I turned 25, had a choice of stick or gas to start. the class was afull three units semester course with mid-terms and finals on metalurgy heat treating and indentification. tough course I learned a lot kept the books for years and years.
    Anyway I took gas welding. Actually cleaner and a purer weldment but too much heat for some metals unless there' a good deal of pre/post heating. The manipulation of torch and filler, being in different hands is tough & takes tons of practice. Friend of mine is getting one (tig/stick)setup. Haven't in years. Gonna go play. Loved it.
    Wirefeed is actually easy to start but will give you a brittle weldment. Manipulating gas flow, voltage and stickout can really change the properties of a weld. I never wanted to be a production weldor so only I used wire feed for quick tack when fitting up. never did alot of it. Did some wirefeed aluminum on one contract.
    Welding 110,000 PSI steel on crane booms was interestng as hell. Lot of tricky shit there man; all stick.
    When I worked on bridges or large projects I was the guy did the lay-out, piece nesting, and as-built designs; stairs and rails were fun; done a few circular stairs in Iron. always loved lay-out work The money was in computer engineering back in the late eighties up until about 2001. Always liked fuckin' with 'em (computers) was writing code at night after workin on heavy equipment.
    Like the whore I am, I went with the money. I always missed buildin bikes and fabricating. hopefully I can find a way to get back into it here in some small way. Figure another six months or year. Build maybe 5 6 a years gotta build my own first.
    Starting to meet folks, but with no bike? I aint no fuckin' hang-around

  6. #56
    Thailand Expat
    Eliminator's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Last Online
    26-11-2020 @ 11:56 AM
    Location
    Thailand
    Posts
    3,804
    I'm not a builder by any stretch of the immagination but "rebuild" I can do. Guess I just love taking a wreck and putting it back into shape. My problem is I tend to go overboard on everything being right and spend more on em than they're worth but then this last one will be my last bike to keep. I would like to have a shop that does quality stuff, not this sand by hand stuff,painting outdoors and all the other stuff you see here in Thailand. I get my tools and parts brought in from the US and England and have been pretty lucky so far. It's this last shipment that's held me up on the 900. She''l get there.
    Eliminator
    1986 Kawasaki 900

  7. #57
    Northern Hermit
    friscofrankie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Chiangmai, Thailand
    Posts
    7,526
    hand work can be very good, on the paint? Got a friend that's got him a powdercoating shop does custom show quality work. Wonderful stuff, powdercoat. He's a pro and does a glass-like finish. Always hated painting. i spend a fortune, take hours to get my lowers down to .0003" runout. if I didn't have a friend that could paint i'd can paint it. love a nice paint job, but It will never get done by my hand.

  8. #58
    Thailand Expat
    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Last Online
    08-09-2014 @ 10:43 AM
    Location
    Simian Islands
    Posts
    34,827
    Quote Originally Posted by friscofrankie
    hand work can be very good, on the paint? Got a friend that's got him a powdercoating shop does custom show quality work. Wonderful stuff, powdercoat. He's a pro and does a glass-like finish. Always hated painting. i spend a fortune, take hours to get my lowers down to .0003" runout. if I didn't have a friend that could paint i'd can paint it. love a nice paint job, but It will never get done by my hand.
    How much do you think it would cost for a custom paint job for my chopper?


  9. #59
    Northern Hermit
    friscofrankie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Chiangmai, Thailand
    Posts
    7,526
    Dunno but I know where you can sme rocket engines to mount onthe back of it. Hell I'll install 'em for free. 'long as you test ride it where I can see

  10. #60
    Thailand Expat
    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Last Online
    08-09-2014 @ 10:43 AM
    Location
    Simian Islands
    Posts
    34,827
    What does "sme" mean?

  11. #61
    Northern Hermit
    friscofrankie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Chiangmai, Thailand
    Posts
    7,526
    s - O - m - e
    teacher. Shit, I'm gonna have start editing my posts again.
    Be another year before I make 2000...

  12. #62
    Thailand Expat
    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Last Online
    08-09-2014 @ 10:43 AM
    Location
    Simian Islands
    Posts
    34,827
    I wasn't being pedantic mate - I really didn't know what it was supposed to say.

    How much are these rockets then?

  13. #63
    Northern Hermit
    friscofrankie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Chiangmai, Thailand
    Posts
    7,526
    Nah really i've gotta start editing my shit I do this spontaneous shit and sometimes it's so bad I can't tell what i wrote. Think we can get 'em cheap, hell free if you'll do a show!

  14. #64
    Thailand Expat
    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Last Online
    08-09-2014 @ 10:43 AM
    Location
    Simian Islands
    Posts
    34,827
    I'll stick Pops on it.

  15. #65
    Thailand Expat Texpat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    In your head
    Posts
    13,045


    This is the bike (not actual bike) I had until about two weeks ago. As I'm moving to Thailand in May, I had to sell my Max (I actually cried a little). It's a monster 4 carb 1200 cc goliath that will tear up just about any crotch rocket and hang with the hawgs too. If I thought I could find another in Thailand, that wasn't abused, at a fair price, I'd certainly consider.
    Last edited by Texpat; 25-02-2006 at 10:03 AM.

  16. #66
    Northern Hermit
    friscofrankie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Chiangmai, Thailand
    Posts
    7,526
    I've always enjoyed massive amuonts of power. That ^ is ne bake I've always wanted to play with since it came out. There are a quite a few here. And folks that can work on 'em too! The engine has so much potential, It might even be capable of 200 hp in a semi streetable configuration; Electronic, timed port injection, bigger bore, stoked a tad...
    Really just gobs of horse power and a couple of wheels, my kind a machine. Think the V-Rod actually comes close, and there's big bore kit available from Wisceco for it.
    Last edited by friscofrankie; 25-02-2006 at 10:55 AM.

  17. #67
    Thailand Expat Texpat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    In your head
    Posts
    13,045
    Certainly a favorite of muscle bike mags -- they drool over the design, virtually unchanged since it came out in 86 (I think). I've taken several trips up and down the SoCal coast and it's simply a pleasure to ride. But it's not without critics. Front end wobbles a bit at high speed, small tank (4g) uncomfy for passengers. For my money It's the best bike going that runs with neither crowd.

  18. #68
    Northern Hermit
    friscofrankie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Chiangmai, Thailand
    Posts
    7,526
    Think it was '84 or 5 been a while though can't be sure.

    It is under-built for the horsepower no doubt. And yeah the FE is weak as. but that is part of it's appeal. Huge amounts of power and little else.

    When it first came out they tested it at bonneville. think it clocked about 148 mph or so. better FE, more trail, and lowered; it'd do 155+ easy add a fairing and just spec the motor out so she'd live upstairs for extended length of time think the bike unbeatable for her class in time trials. Drags? Not so. Twisties? 'Bout as maneuverable as a hog without the comfort.

    Very special beast, but i'd only buy one as my third or fourth bike. Rentals are an option here, but with the amount of power they put out I'd spend a couple of hours goin' over the thing for before I exercised 'er.

    Passengers??? What the fuck is that? Even when I was young, dumb and fulla.. I rarely packed.
    Last edited by friscofrankie; 25-02-2006 at 01:00 PM.

  19. #69
    Thailand Expat
    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Last Online
    08-09-2014 @ 10:43 AM
    Location
    Simian Islands
    Posts
    34,827
    Quote Originally Posted by Texpat


    This is the bike (not actual bike) I had until about two weeks ago. As I'm moving to Thailand in May, I had to sell my Max (I actually cried a little). It's a monster 4 carb 1200 cc goliath that will tear up just about any crotch rocket and hang with the hawgs too. If I thought I could find another in Thailand, that wasn't abused, at a fair price, I'd certainly consider.




    This is what you want - 12,000lbs of thrust. Or are you scared? OK, stick with your little shopper then.

  20. #70
    Thailand Expat

    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    In a rather cold and dark place
    Posts
    12,823
    Texpat

    I can find you one that hasn't been abused tomorrow

    One of my mates has one for sale - starter motor has just packed it in but is being replaced.

  21. #71
    Thailand Expat

    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    In a rather cold and dark place
    Posts
    12,823
    Texpay where was that photo taken

    Looks a lot like the UK but sunny

  22. #72
    punk douche bag
    ChiangMai noon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    o dan y bryn
    Posts
    29,256
    Oh, it's most definitely the UK...on a good day.
    I believe the pic is stolen version of his bike that he hasn't got anymore owing to having sold it.

    Leicester I believe.

  23. #73
    Thailand Expat Texpat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    In your head
    Posts
    13,045
    Yes, that photo was nicked off the Net. I have pics of my (former) bike, but can't figure out how to post them.

  24. #74
    Member
    Sanuk Canuk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Last Online
    24-05-2011 @ 08:35 AM
    Location
    In a frigid wasteland too close to the arctic circle
    Posts
    299
    I always liked the max as well. Some guys have done them over to improve handling, brakes and a few other issues. I would guess that a Hayabusa (sp) has more HP and more upside mod potential but I always loved V4 engines on bikes. I owned a couple of Honda VFR's in the past, loved that gear driven cam noise that sounded like a blower spooling up. Too bad they went to a belt drive on the new VTECH V4's.

    If you get another VMax take a look on the net at the frame stiffening that folks do and get a nice set of forks and shocks and you should be good to go! If you got lots of coin get bigger wheels and brakes on that bad boy and you would really be off to the races.

  25. #75
    Not again!
    machangezi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Last Online
    13-05-2022 @ 04:22 PM
    Location
    Out there!
    Posts
    7,695



Page 3 of 214 FirstFirst 12345678910111353103 ... LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •